>I am very concerned about elementary mathematics. WHAT CAN WE DO TO >CHANGE THE CURRENT SITUATION? HOW CAN EXPERIENCES BE PROVIDED SO THAT >TEACHERS FEEL COMPETENT AND EXCITED ABOUT TEACHING MATHEMATICS?>>David K. Pugalee, Saginaw Valley State University

Hi David;

The solution to this problem is actually quite simple. Colleges andUniversityes MUST provide credit courses for in-service teachers that allowthem to LEARN the mathematics that they need.

Last time I asked about this most people had many reasons why this cannotbe done, but until it is, the quality of mathematics education in theelementary school will remain unpredictable, with pockets of highlymathematical elementary teachers and pockets of non-mathmatical teachers.

Elementary school is an inappropriate place for departmentalizingmathmatics or any other curriculum. So that is not a solution.

Again, I feel strongly that until the coursework with credit is availablewe are basically powerless to correct this situation across the board. Noneof the teachers in my building would resist taking courses that had creditsattached to them, but conversely, very few are willing to take course workthat does not.

Those of you in power in higher education institutions please, please,please, address this issue in your college or university. The fate ofmath education for young children in our nation depends on it. :-)